National Careers Week 2016 2016 Digital Magazine | Page 12

A CAREER

WITH A VIEW
Specsavers are backing a campaign in
schools to encourage the next generation
of optometrists and eye care professionals

Rachel Chapman’s story is a great example of
just how far a career in optometry can take you.
She’s gone from a weekend job in her local store
to running her own practice in Wales.
“I started working for Specsavers when I was
still a teenager, as my summer job when I wasn’t
at school,” says Rachel. “I started out working
on a Saturday in the office, typing up the data
from the eye tests. I did a three year degree at
Manchester then a year as an optometrist under
someone else’s supervision. Then I worked my
way up gradually to the job that I’m in now. As
soon as I started that first role I realised that
this was what I wanted to do as a career.”
Today, Rachel is an ophthalmic director at
Specsavers, Colwyn Bay, Wales, running her
own store and responsible for a team of people.
It’s a job that brings her plenty of challenges
– balancing caring for the clinical needs of
her patients with making sure that the store is
running as a sustainable, successful business.
“I really wanted a professional role where you
could help people but in a commercial setting

too, rather than in a medical environment like
a hospital,” says Rachel. “And as a director,
you need to be focused on retail as well.”
Rachel is now also part of a team of Specsavers’
Ambassadors who have been visiting
secondary schools to spread the word about
the opportunities in this fantastic profession.
The Career with a View workshops are aimed
at Key Stage 3 and 4 students and are all led
by Specsavers’ professionals – many of whom,
like Rachel, have been given the chance to run
their own business. The sessions are full of
practical advice on possible career paths within
the industry, as well as activities designed to
get students thinking about the challenges of
running their own business. Rachel is keen to
get across that a career in optometry can be
whatever you want it to be.
“You can do as much you want in terms of your
career – whether you want to stay working
in a store, or if you want to do a professional
qualification and specialise in a particular area.
It’s flexible and I think a lot of careers don’t give
you that option.”